Skipper's delay request `denied'
20.04.2007
THE skipper of the Immigration Department vessel that sank in rough seas in the Torres Strait, killing all five on board, had a request to delay his journey by a day in the hope of better weather rejected because the department would not pay for another night's accommodation for him.
Immigration Department employee Patricia Mooka told a coronial inquest into the sinking of the Malu Sara in October 2005 that skipper Wilfred Baira wanted to wait for safer weather before travelling the 74km of open sea from Saibai to Badu island. But senior Immigration official Garry Chaston said the department could not afford to pay for Mr Baira to stay for another night on Saibai Island.
Mrs Mooka said she attended a workshop on Saibai Island in Torres Strait from October 7 to 14, 2005, where Immigration skippers were to receive operating instructions on new boats.
She said that when the workshop wound up, Mr Baira told her he was concerned about the trip because of the bad weather and high seas and he was worried the boat would take in water.
She said she was present when Mr Baira said to Mr Chaston: ``Is it possible if I could spend a night here on Saibai Island until the weather calms down before I can go back to Badu?''
``Garry said: `The department can't afford to pay you another night here on Saibai.' ``Wilfred didn't say anything at this point in time. He just stood waiting.
``I said to Wilfred: `Bro, you welcome to come down stay at Dauan at my place. You can stay there until the wind drops down and then you can proceed from Dauan back to Badu.' But he just said: `If that is what the boss said, I am not going to argue.' I said: `OK, the offer is there.'''
Mr Chaston's counsel, Michael Fellows, said his client denied having that conversation, but Mrs Mooka insisted it did occur.
Earlier, Mrs Mooka told the inquest she was a passenger on the Malu Sara on a test run around Saibai Island on October 12. When the vessel was anchored a large amount of water was seen flooding in from the back.
``It came in the back at floor-level real fast and the Eskys and water coolers at the back began to float and it was in as far as the driver's seat, and almost knee-deep,'' Mrs Mooka said.
They began baling the water out. When the bilge pump did not work, they set out again at speed with the bung removed, and the water drained out.
It was ``a very scary experience we went through'', Mrs Mooka said. The inquest continues
